Some of Tennessee's solar-power system installers say smaller subsidies and project sizes mandated by TVA threaten their livelihood.

Written by

G. Chambers Williams III
| The Tennessean

The solar energy boom in Tennessee is about to go bust, according to some of the state's solar-power system installers, a fate they blame on the region's federally owned electric utility, the Tennessee Valley Authority.

TVA announced recently it already had reached its cap on projects the agency will provide financial incentives for during 2013.

"That means I won't be able to sign up any more customers until next January, and I can't go that long without any work," said Gary Wolf, co-owner and lead installer at Sundog Solar Energy LLC in Nashville. "I'll probably just have to go out of ...